Before the 2024 NFL season, the Week 10 “Monday Night Football” matchup may have looked like an unlikely but possible Super Bowl 59 preview.
Now, it’s a measuring stick for whether the Los Angeles Rams are a legitimate playoff contender and whether the Miami Dolphins are one of the NFL’s worst teams.
The Rams have been surging recently as their offense has gotten healthier, and their defense has jelled under first-year coordinator Chris Shula. That has positioned them for a potential playoff push and has them looking like a stronger Super Bowl contender than most would have anticipated after their 1-4 start.
The Dolphins haven’t had the same luck. They have dealt with key injuries, including one to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but Mike McDaniel hasn’t been able to keep the squad afloat. The Dolphins still have an outside chance to right the ship and work their way into the wild-card race, but they are running short on time to do so with the halfway point of the season now passed.
Here’s what to know for tonight’s “Monday Night Football” game:
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RAMS VS. DOLPHINS:Expert Week 10 picks for ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup
The Rams (4-4) are hosting the Dolphins (2-6) on “Monday Night Football” in Week 10.
Los Angeles is amid a three-game winning streak that has pushed it from the bottom of the NFC West into the battle to win the division. They have been sparked by the return of both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua to the lineup, while their young defense – headlined by first-round pick Jared Verse – is starting to establish itself as a pass-rushing force.
The Dolphins have a good pass defense that will test Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ talented receiver room. That said, running back Kyren Williams has a more favorable matchup against Miami’s middling run defense and could get interior linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson back this week. If he does, that could spark a strong performance on the ground for Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins are watching their playoff chances wither away but will have a chance to stay competitive with Tua Tagovailoa back in the lineup.
Tagovailoa has relied increasingly on running back De’Von Achane to carry the team as a receiver out of the backfield, so he is the focal point of Miami’s offense in this one. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have disappointed this season, but each will have a chance to make plays against a shaky Rams secondary that allows 225 passing yards per game (23rd-most in the NFL).
This contest will also be big for Jalen Ramsey, a former Ram who was traded to the Dolphins before the 2023 NFL season. This will be his first game against the Rams since 2017 when he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Super Bowl 56 winner will want to show well against his former squad in the proverbial revenge game.
This will also mark the first-ever meeting between Sean McVay and Mike McDaniel as head coaches. McVay had a record of just 4-7 against the San Francisco 49ers when McDaniel was on Kyle Shanahan’s staff (including a 1-2 record in McDaniel’s lone year as 49ers offensive coordinator in 2021).
“Monday Night Football” will be played at 8:15 p.m. ET in Week 10. That’s the normal start time for all “MNF” programming in 2024, except for a few doubleheader games.
ESPN’s Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (color commentary) will be on the call for the game. Lisa Salters will be on the sidelines in Week 10, and it’s possible that she could be joined by Laura Rutledge, who worked in tandem with her in Week 9.
Pre and post-game analysis for “Monday Night Football” will occur in the ESPN studio with analysts Adam Schefter, Alex Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears, and Jason Kelce.
ESPN will carry “Monday Night Football” broadcasts throughout the 2024 season. ABC will not broadcast the game in Week 10.
Fans who prefer to stream football games can watch “MNF” with an ESPN+ subscription or with Fubo, which offers a seven-day free trial.
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